Bologna, August 19, 2026 – high temperatures do not seem willing to give respite to those spending the second half of August in the city. But, despite the sun continuing to dominate high in the sky, summer now seems ready to show its more turbulent side, with thunderstorms and precipitation expected to interrupt, at least temporarily, the long heatwave.
Federico Grazzini, head of the Operational Meteorology Service and Functional Center of Arpa Emilia-Romagna, what are the forecasts for the coming days?
“Already tomorrow (Thursday, August 20, ed.) instability will increase and in the evening we could see the first thunderstorms in the Apennine sector. For this reason, a yellow alert for thunderstorms was issued today, valid for tomorrow, on the central and western Apennines: from Modena to Reggio Emilia, Parma, and Piacenza.”
And what about Friday, August 21?
“It will be the most disturbed day, with persistent thunderstorms on the Apennines and scattered in the plains. Most likely, the most affected area will be the western one, from Bologna westward, while the coast will be less affected. The phenomena could be locally intense especially on the hills, while they will be less intense in the plains. In any case, Friday will finally bring some rain, thus easing the drought conditions that are beginning to develop over much of the region. As for Saturday and Sunday, instability will persist but the picture is not yet entirely certain: there should not be widespread precipitation like that expected for Friday.”
High temperatures seem unwilling to give any respite. When will it finally be possible to say goodbye to the intense heat?
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“Today we still record temperatures with maximum peaks around 36 degrees, definitely high values considering we are in the second half of August. However, this is a phase destined to last only a little longer: temperatures will drop back to more normal values. Already between Saturday and Sunday we will settle around 30 degrees maximum and 20 minimum, giving us an optimal summer climate.”
After the weekend, how will the weather change?
“After the weekend, a new worsening will occur. A disturbance will indeed cause a marked change in weather conditions, especially starting from late Monday afternoon, when showers, including thunderstorms, may occur. From Tuesday, the weather should improve again, with more stable conditions that – according to current forecasts – could remain so until the following weekend. Temperatures, finally, should stay around 30 degrees during the hottest hours.”
Can we also expect hail in the coming days?
“The expected worsening between Thursday and Friday brings with it the possibility of even intense thunderstorms and, for this reason, the risk of hail cannot be excluded. In any case, it should be remembered that hail is a phenomenon difficult to predict precisely, both in terms of its intensity and the areas where it might occur.”
